A trip down west

Kim and I went down to Bournmouth to buy me my birthday present a very cute little Tortoise called George II. Unfortunately SATNAV decided to take us on a long route back to the shop and across a ferry. This meant that we were 10 minutes late the shop was closed. Very upset, we started our route home. I had had a nice day at Corfe castle and got a few shots but was still upset about not getting George. As we were heading home Kim suggested i take my camera and we stop off at a beach in Chichester to capture the sunset. We found a place and i started taking shots. It wasn’t until we walked quite a way along the beach that we found this little bay with a moured ship. I took lots of shots as the sun began to set.

This was my favourite angle. i combined 6 different images to get the full tonal range. Originally i had it in colour but it was suggested by scott wright photo that i converted it to mono. I am very happy with the final image and think it works much better in Blackand white

A few more snow pictures

One of the first shots i took when i got down to the beach. I found it extremely funny to see the Beach showers covered in snow. If i had a brave friend with me it would have been nice to have someone using them. That might be a bit much to ask of anyone though

Another shot taken during the snow. I like the red against the white snow. i boosted the saturation a little to improve the shot but that was about it.

Snow Snow Snow

So i was rudely awoken by a person asking for a Mrs Edwards. After explaining that there was no one of that name in my house i went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. To my utter suprise it was snowing and not that normal it will be gone in two minutes type of snow we usually get. I rusehed into the bedroom to tell Kim but she wasn’t that excited because she was feeling ill.

I knew i had to get into town as quickly as possible so i could get some shots. i made a quick protein shake so as not to waste time, got my skiing jacket and stuff and got out there. i headed to the beach and snapped snapped snapped away. i haven’t had time to edit all my shots yet but here are the first two

As i was busying myself taking as many photos of the beach in the snow i saw two people swimming in the freezing sea. i ran over as quick as i could and took this photo of Bob from the Brighton swimming club.

It snowed! I can remember the last time it snowed in Brighton and laid. This shot is something i have been wanting to take for a long time ever since i saw a similar shot in one of the photography magazines i subscribe to.

The shot from the magazine was of a autumn tree with bright red leaves. however, while i was walking through the forest i thought i would give it a try with the snow.

Palace Pier Brighton panoramic

View On Black

This shot is a combination of 10 individual shots. I used my canon 50mm f/1.4 lens with my canon 350D along with my panosaurus tripod head. As i got down to the beach there was a lovely sunset. i set my self up and started taking shots. after about 5 minutes the rain started coming. i had just enough time to take one final set of photos before i got completely soaked.

I chose to convert it into a subtle HDR because i always like the effect on the sky. i had to do a little cloning and masking in photoshop as the waves didn’t look right.

I’m proud of this shot, but i still think i could make it better. the far end of the pier is a little under exposed so i think i will have to sort that out in photoshop.

Aosta mountains panoramic

I just got back from a Ski trip to Aosta in Italy. Even though it didn’t snow all week the conditions were good. I took my back pack with my Canon 350D 50mm, 100mm and 10-22mm lenses and a tripod just in case there was a particularly beautiful shot. It wasn’t a light kit to ski around with all day but i did manage to get some nice shots.

Above is the first of many images of the mountains. it was early morning and we were some of the first on the slopes. i used my panasaurus tripod head and my 100mm lens to take three images that i played around with in photoshop. I’m not quite happy with the sky, but i didn’t get a lot of sleep on the bus last night.

Panoramic Mountains

Another panoramic shot taken on my ski trip to Italy. this was on the last day of the holiday. no one else wanted to go on this run as they thought it was scary. when i got up there is was greeted with a knew view of another mountain range.

i slapped on a polarizing filter and took a series of 5 shots. i did some post processing but on a little tweak on RAW.

I really like the contrast between the sky and the orange by the snow cannon

view large on black

Ski trip Italy

so i have been on holiday to Italy. I booked the holiday before my injury and was really worried that i wouldn’t be able to make it. Luckily, i healed quickly and along with Ibroprofin and a huge knee support i manage to have a really good time. during my ski trip to Aosta i was fortunate enough to catch some speed trials. i couldn’t get close enough to where the jump was but found this great position just down the run.

I laid down on my front and lifted the barrier enough to get my lens under. i took a few shots and this was my favourite. i really like the curve of the pole and the position of the skier

Always take a cloth to wipe your lens

So i decided to go down to the seafront this afternoon to take some photos. the weather was extremely cold but the sea was calm and the sky was clear. I had a few ideas of what i wanted to shoot and when i got there i started shooting, not realising that i was slowly building up a fine film of sea water on teh front of my lens. It is completely my fault for not thinking but it was far too cold to think clearly. Anyway. i took a few shots of the eroded groynes an play about with them in photoshop. My favourite image was actually my first serious black and white and so i chose to have it as the image today

A new year and a new me

A new year and a new me. Last year i suddenly started seeing all these HDR photos popping up all over Flickr and winning competitions in my photography magazines. There were some photos that used teh effect subtly and this really improved the photo, however there were many people that pushed the process too far in my opinion and the over-stylized photos were not, in my opinion pleasing to look at.

In the latest Photography monthly, they featured and article on HDR. Given that i had never tried it i decided to give it a go. My first image was well exposed and teh HDR effect added little to the end photo. As i still had the photo open i decided i would do what i always disliked and pushed the image a little too far. I am pleased with the final image and i am glad i learnt a new skills, however, i don’t think i will be creating too many HDR images as i like to stay true to the form and aim for a well exposed image straight from the camera.

This image was a little bit of a cheat as i used Adobe Raw editor to change the exposure of a single image. I had 7 exposures ranging from -2.2 to +2.2

Happy 2008

Well 2007 is over and I feel i have really improved in my photography, not just taking the photos but with my post-processing too. I have spent a lot of money on kit this year and should have no excuses for not taking high-quality pictures. I have a few photography targets to made this year.       

1). To win a photography contest. I subscribe to both Digital photo and Photography monthly and always enjoy looking at the contest entries. This year i am going to get off my backside and enter them myself. I have only got 6 days for the first round of the Digital photo competition and haven’t got anything worth entering so i think i will focus on the next round Still life.

  2). Exhibit my work in one of the Brighton Festival. Where i live there are lots of open houses for the various Brighton festivals. i would like to Print up some of my photos and have a display. 

 3). Upgrade my 350D to a 40D or better. Maybe if i succeed at no.2 i can afford this one.

 4). Make a huge panoramic photo that i can print out and have on my wall at home. 

5). Not to neglect Kim while i am taking photos. I was extremely stupid and self-centered while we were in Prague. there was a beautiful sunset and i was so intent on getting a photograph to remember the scene that i completely forgot about Kim. Now my photograph just reminds me of making the wrong choice. Sometimes the photos can be left